Malaya 1957

At the end of January 'C' Company (Major P R H Kealy) killed two
CTs in deep jungle in a protracted 15 days operation, while
further south in the Geylang Patah area, in a Brigade operation,
'A' and Support Companies under command of Major S W Peet,
accounted for three more CTs attempting to break through a cordon at night.
During the last few weeks every Company was employed on
operations at least once, and on the 14th February 1st Queen's
finally left the jungle. The last man to do so was Sergeant
Isaac MM of 'B' Company, the only member of the Company remaining
from the time it became operational three years earlier.

The General Service Medal with clasp "Malaya".(Click to enlarge)

Mission Completed

Over the three years 46 CTs had been killed, and many surrendered
as a direct result of the Battalion's operations, but figures
give little idea of the vast effort to which all ranks
contributed whether in operational Companies where it took
thousands of man hours patrolling and in laying ambushes
requiring silence, stillness and always instant readiness; in
signal communications vital to operations, where the only link
from the jungle to order resupply, to call-in helicopters for casualty evacuation, to determine accurate location from overhead aircraft, to pass
information and orders, was by man-portable radio set - in this
the operating standard achieved by the Signal Platoon was one of
the major factors in the Battalion's success - and in the
Battalion's other integral support elements. All essential
parts of a cohesive and very effective whole. This against a
background of enervating heat and humidity alternating with the
contrasting chill and saturation of tropical downpours, the
considerable discomfort of vicious insects including malarial
mosquitoes, voracious leeches, and other less than friendly flora
and fauna, all placing a premium on maintenance of full
physical fitness. Nevertheless with leadership and good
training, morale was high, and demands and hazards surmounted,
whether in the jungle or elsewhere.

It is remarkable that throughout the three years, a large
proportion of the Battalion had been National Service officers
and men, and short-term (3 years) Regulars, who conducted
themselves with credit, endured the hard conditions with courage
and cheerfulness, and accepted responsibilities well beyond what
might have been expected of them. However, the Battalion's
success would not have been possible without the dedicated
service of the Warrant Officers and Sergeants, who bore the brunt
of operations, frequently exercising independent command when no
Officer was available, and providing also the essential
continuity as Company and Platoon Commanders, National Service
men and short-term Regulars came and went.

Such achievement was not without its cost, and a memorial plaque
originally installed in St George's Church, Tanglin Barracks,
Singapore, but now in Holy Trinity Church Guildford, records
seven Battalion members Killed In Action, and three who died on
Active Service.

After farewell parades, commendations by General Officers Commanding, and parting
presentations by the Government of Malaya, 17 Gurkha Division, 99 Gurkha Infantry Brigade and the Malaya Police the Battalion embarked at Singapore on the 2nd March 1957 and
sailed for Southampton on the troopship HMT "Empire Orwell", played
away by the bands of 1/2nd and 2/10th Gurkha Rifles - the close
of another distinguished chapter in the Regiment's proud history.